Men's FIH Pro League

For the women's competition, see Women's FIH Pro League.
Men's FIH Pro League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024–25 Men's FIH Pro League
FormerlyHockey World League
SportField hockey
Founded2017; 7 years ago (2017)
First season2019
No. of teams9
ContinentInternational (FIH)
Most recent
champion(s)		 Australia (2nd title)
(2023–24)
Most titles Netherlands
 Australia
(2 titles)
Relegation toFIH Hockey Nations Cup
Official websitefihproleague.com

The Men's FIH Pro League is an international men's field hockey competition organised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), which replaces the Men's FIH Hockey World League. The competition also serves as a qualifier for the Hockey World Cup and the first edition also did for the Olympic Games.[1]

The first edition started in 2019. Nine teams secured their places for four years.

Format

FIH Pro League Trophy

Nine men's and women's teams compete in a round-robin tournament with home and away matches, played from October to June, with the top team at the end of the season winning the league. From 2022–23 onwards, the bottom team at the end of the season will be relegated and will be replaced by the winner of a new competition called the Men's FIH Nations Cup.[2]

Teams

In July 2017, Hockey India decided to withdraw both the men's and women's national teams from the competition as they estimated the chances of qualifying for the Summer Olympics to be higher when participating in the Men's FIH Hockey World League. Hockey India also cited lack of clarity in the ranking system.[3][4] The International Hockey Federation subsequently invited Spain instead.[5] Pakistan were suspended in 2019 after they could not play their first three games.[6] India joined the Pro League from 2020 onwards.[7] In September 2021, both New Zealand and Australia withdrew from the 2021–22 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions coming with it.[8][9]

Current teams
Former teams

Results

Ed. Year Final host Final Third place match Teams
GS / FR
Champions Score Runners-up Third place Score Fourth place
1
 2019 Amstelveen, Netherlands
Australia 		3–2
Belgium
Netherlands 		5–3
Great Britain 		8 / 4
2
 2020–21 (Various)
Belgium		 RR
Australia
Germany		 RR
India 		9
3
[a]		 2021–22 (Various)
Netherlands		 RR
Belgium
India		 RR
Germany 		9
4
 2022–23 (Various)
Netherlands		 RR
Great Britain
Belgium		 RR
India 		9
5
 2023–24 (Various)
Australia		 RR
Netherlands
Great Britain		 RR
Argentina 		9
6
 2024–25 (Various) RR RR 9

Summary

Team Winners Runners-up Third place Fourth place
 Netherlands 2 (2021–22, 2022–23) 1 (2023–24) 1 (2019)
 Australia 2 (2019, 2023–24) 1 (2020–21)
 Belgium 1 (2020–21) 2 (2019, 2021–22) 1 (2022–23)
 Great Britain 1 (2022–23) 1 (2023–24) 1 (2019)
 India 1 (2021–22) 2 (2020–21, 2022–23)
 Germany 1 (2020–21) 1 (2021–22)
 Argentina 1 (2023–24)

Team appearances

Team 2019 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 Total
 Argentina 5th 7th 5th 8th 4th Q 6
 Australia 1st 2nd WD 7th 1st Q 5
 Belgium 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd 5th Q 6
 Canada – – WD – – – 0
 England Part of GB 6th Part of GB Q 2
 France – – 8th – – – 1
 Germany 6th 3rd 4th 6th 6th Q 6
 Great Britain 4th 6th – 2nd 3rd – 4
 India – 4th 3rd 4th 7th Q 5
 Ireland – – – – 9th Decrease Q 2
 Netherlands 3rd 5th 1st 1st 2nd Q 6
 New Zealand 8th 8th WD 9th Decrease – WD 3
 Pakistan DSQ – – – – – 0
 South Africa – – 9th – WD – 1
 Spain 7th 9th 7th 5th 8th Q 6
Total 8 9 9 9 9 9

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Australia and New Zealand withdrew from the tournament before it began, being replaced by Canada and South Africa. Six weeks after being declared New Zealand's replacement, Canada withdrew and was replaced by France.

References

  1. ^ "Hockey Pro League Q&A". fih.ch. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  2. ^ "About FIH Pro League". International Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Hockey India justifies withdrawal from FIH Pro League". The Times of India. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  4. ^ "FIH statement on the withdrawal of Hockey India from the Hockey Pro League". fih.ch. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  5. ^ "FIH confirms Spain men and Belgium women join Hockey Pro League". fih.ch. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  6. ^ "FIH Pro League: Pakistan out of first edition". 24 January 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Executive Board approves 2020 and 2021 FIH Pro League match schedule principles". fih.ch. International Hockey Federation. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Hockey Australia announces absence from FIH tournaments". www.hockey.org.au. Hockey Australia. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Hockey New Zealand unable to participate in FIH events in late 2021, early 2022". Hockey New Zealand. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2022.